Linear Integration

Linear is a first-class integration in TestOrchestrator. Instead of pasting an API token, a Linear workspace admin authorizes TestOrchestrator once through Linear's OAuth flow. After that, your team can search live Linear issues when linking, see an AI-written insight on each linked issue, and generate test cases straight from a Linear issue's sidebar.

Linear is a built-in integration source. Everything about relations, project scope, and where links appear is shared with all other sources — this page covers what is unique to Linear.

Connecting Linear

Connecting Linear is a one-time, per-workspace action performed by an administrator in Admin → External References → Sources. A Connect to Linear card sits above the integration sources list.

Open Admin → External References → Sources. The Linear card reads "Connect TestOrchestrator to Linear."
Click Authorize with Linear. You are redirected to Linear to approve access.
Approve the request in Linear. You are returned to TestOrchestrator and the card switches to a Connected to Linear state.

Once connected, the card shows the connected Linear workspace name, the granted scope, the date you connected, and — when applicable — the date the access token expires. TestOrchestrator refreshes the token automatically; if a refresh ever fails, the card prompts you to reconnect.

Why OAuth instead of an API token? Authorizing through Linear means no personal API token is copied into TestOrchestrator. Access is tied to the authorization your workspace admin granted and can be revoked at any time by disconnecting.

Choosing a default project for sidebar actions

Test cases generated from the Linear sidebar (see Generating test cases from the Linear sidebar) need a home. The connected card includes a Default project for sidebar actions row:

If no default project is set yet, the row is highlighted with a warning and shows "No default project — pick one."
Click Pick a project (or Change project) to choose the project that sidebar-generated cases land in.

Set a default project before relying on sidebar generation, so generated cases are filed in the right place.

Disconnecting Linear

Click Disconnect on the connected card and confirm. Disconnecting revokes TestOrchestrator's access to your Linear workspace, and sidebar actions stop working until you reconnect.

Existing links are kept. Disconnecting does not delete issues you have already linked — those references remain in place. They will simply stop refreshing live details until Linear is reconnected.

Linking a Linear issue with live search

For most providers, linking an external item means typing its key by hand. For Linear sources, TestOrchestrator replaces the manual key field with a live issue search in the link dialog.

On a test case, run, or exploration, open the External References panel and choose Link item.
Select your Linear source. The external-key field becomes a search box.
Type at least two characters of an issue key or title. Matching Linear issues appear as you type, each showing the issue key, its current status, priority, assignee, and Linear project where available.
Pick an issue from the results, choose a relation, and save.

If a search returns more matches than can be shown, the list notes that results were trimmed — refine your query to narrow them down. Selecting an issue fills in its key, URL, and title automatically, so the saved link always points at a real issue.

AI insight on linked Linear issues

When you link a Linear issue, TestOrchestrator generates a short AI insight — a plain-language summary of what the issue is about — and displays it beneath the linked issue in the External References panel.

While the insight is being generated, a subtle placeholder appears and updates on its own when the summary is ready — no page refresh needed.
If the linked issue has no description or nothing meaningful to summarise, no insight is shown.
Team members with permission to manage external references see a Regenerate button to recompute the insight — useful after the issue's description changes in Linear.

AI insight is an AI-assisted feature and is available on plans that include AI capabilities. The summary is meant as a quick reference inside TestOrchestrator — always confirm details against the issue in Linear.

Once Linear is connected and a default project is chosen, your team can trigger test-case generation directly from a Linear issue. Use the Generate tests action in a Linear issue's sidebar to draft test cases from that ticket. The generated cases are created in the default project you selected on the Linear connection card.

Tracking sidebar activity

TestOrchestrator surfaces a Linear sidebar activity card that lists the most recent sidebar-triggered generation runs for a project. Each entry shows the issue key, how many cases were generated (or whether the run is still in progress or failed), and when it finished. The card refreshes on its own while it is open, so you can watch a generation complete without reloading.

Success — the run finished and created the listed number of test cases.
Pending — generation is still running.
Failed — generation could not complete; the entry shows the reason.

If you have not used the sidebar action yet, the card explains how to populate it: trigger Generate tests from a Linear issue's sidebar.

Who can do what

Action	Who can do it
Authorize or disconnect Linear; set the default generation project	Admins with access to the External References admin page
Search and link Linear issues to a test object	Project members with permission to manage external references
Regenerate the AI insight on a linked issue	Project members with permission to manage external references